Difference Between Good and Bad Driver Behaviour Can Mean 25% Variance in Fleet Costs

The company says that according to figures compiled from its customer base, the best drivers can reduce total operating costs by more than 12% but the worst drivers can easily drive up costs by more than 13%.

General Manager, Ken Goldberg, said:

“There’s a growing awareness among fleets about the level of impact that driver behaviour can have on overall operating costs and these figures underline their concern.

“In terms of average vehicle life cycle costs, the difference between the best and worst drivers will run into thousands of dollars per vehicle, and even on a medium sized fleet, could total a six figure variance.”

Ken Goldberg said that the key areas where driver behaviour impacts vehicle operating costs include fuel, maintenance, accidents and the vehicles condition.

“Generally, fleet managers recognize that less responsible drivers will have higher fuel consumption and cause more wear and tear to their vehicle resulting in higher operating costs.

“However, there’s also a strong correlation between poor driver behaviour and increased accident rates, as well as a general level of carelessness about the vehicle that can directly impact residual values.”

In most fleets, Ken Goldberg said, tighter driver controls and an emphasis on higher levels of personal responsibility directly correlates to reduced costs.

“Where employers make a concerted effort to reinforce company policies and consistently communicate the positive impact that drivers have on operating costs, the condition and safe use of their company vehicle, the level of variance does close. Not completely, of course, but easily enough to make the effort worthwhile.”

For fleet operations, minimising risk is essential for avoiding costly fines, reducing accidents and associated legal fees, and ensuring the safety of your employees and other motorists.

All employees who operate a vehicle for business purposes must be fully trained to operate the class of vehicle to which they are allocated; it is therefore important to have a driver policy in place that’s been signed by drivers – stating they agree to the organisation’s safety procedures and standards you expect from them, they must also be in good health and hold a valid driving licence.

Fleet Driver management software can play a key role here, because with the right data management tools, managers can monitor whether driver’s licences are valid, that they are driving suitable vehicles for their experience, function, & training, and they can also profile risk based on their drivers’ accident history and behaviour. Risk scores can then be used to identify which fleet drivers require further training.